Let's talk about the money being wasted on the Town of Barnstable legal department. Did you all know that the town has four full-time attorneys, plus administrative assistants? Does anyone know how much money this costs us all? God forbid if anyone questions this. The so-called legal department has three full-time attorneys and the school department has one on full-time as well. Does anyone know what these lawyers do each week?

Most people in this Commonwealth know that of the 351 cities and towns here, most towns have their legal services assigned out to various law firms. Not in Barnstable. Here, money grows on trees. Case in point. Over the past year, the town council had a number of complaints filed against them for breaking the open meeting law. I know. I filed one myself. So did another resident as well as a couple more filed by councilors themselves. Now can I inquire why the town attorney's office hired an outside law firm from Boston to the tune of a ton of money to handle this case? Let me get this straight: We have four full-time lawyers in the town legal department and not one of the four is capable of handling a simple open meeting law violation? Or are they? Incapable or not.

The legal department lost a lengthy court case that involved Cotuit resident Burt Russo and his wife Susan Limoncelli in a matter that involved what the town said was an illegal dwelling that had been used by the prior owner for more than 20 years. Talk about a waste of money. The town's position never had an ounce of merit from day one yet the illustrious attorneys in the legal department went forward and wasted taxpayer money and time in any case. Why not? Not their money and besides, they all get their handsome salary checks each week in any regard. If my information is still accurate, they are now appealing the case after already wasting tens of thousands of taxpayer dollars.

If you are a regular reader of this paper, you likely read about the case a while back. As a taxpayer I am horrified that more of our money is now being wasted all over again, especially when hell will freeze over first before they will win on any appeal. What part of that prior owner using the dwelling for the prior 20-plus years before selling it to these people does not the town attorney's office get?

I intend to file a freedom of information request shortly to inquire just how much of our tax dollars has been wasted on outside law firms and I will report back again. In the meantime, perhaps the town council might take a good look into saving the taxpayers some of our hard-earned money. After the council then does as it usually does (nothing), then perhaps we might gather 300 or so of the voters in town and have an open meeting of the voters and we might order the council to put the question on the ballot: Shall the voters of Barnstable eliminate the Town Attorney's Office and have an outside Attorney or firm handle all of the legal affairs of the town? I, for one, second the motion.